Te Pāti Māori Announces Leadership Change with Internal Role Swap

Te Pāti Māori has undergone an internal leadership shift as co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer succeeds Mariameno Kapa-Kingi as the party whip. This change, dated on the Parliament website as occurring on October 3, 2023, has resulted in Kapa-Kingi experiencing a pay cut of $19,000. Ngarewa-Packer, meanwhile, will maintain her existing co-leader salary of $202,600.

The party whip plays a crucial role in managing the attendance and voting of members of Parliament (MPs), mediating disputes within the caucus, and granting leave for absences. This internal change comes as Te Pāti Māori faces increased scrutiny, particularly following the recent electoral success of Oriini Kaipara in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, where she defeated Labour’s Peeni Henare.

Despite her prior success in the role, Kapa-Kingi declined to comment on her removal when approached by Newsroom, stating, “I won’t be able to comment on it at this point. I’m sorry.” She indicated that Ngarewa-Packer might provide further insight regarding the decision.

Ngarewa-Packer explained that the change aims to better support MPs in their extensive electoral responsibilities as the party shifts focus toward the 2026 elections. When asked about the implications of Kapa-Kingi’s pay cut, she noted, “Our caucus discusses everything. Our priority is to repeat the success of what we did in Tāmaki Makaurau, get rid of this government and be determining the next government.”

This leadership adjustment is not without precedent. Ngarewa-Packer previously served as whip during the early years of her parliamentary career, underscoring that such arrangements are not entirely uncommon within the party. Nonetheless, the centralization of power with one individual in both leadership and whip roles raises concerns about accountability and representation.

According to the Clerk of the House, David Wilson, while it is unusual for a party leader or co-leader to also serve as the whip, there are no regulations preventing such a combination. He explained, “Where the whip and leader are the same person, obviously there are fewer people to exercise those powers.”

Te Pāti Māori, consisting solely of six electorate MPs, often sees its members absent from Parliament during sitting days, as they focus on their respective electorates. This trend means that only a handful of party members are typically present in the House during the latter part of the parliamentary week. With Ngarewa-Packer now in the whip position, if both co-leaders are absent, another MP must be designated to cast proxy votes on behalf of the party.

The timing of this role swap coincides with heightened attention on the party, especially surrounding controversial comments made by MP Tākuta Ferris. During the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election campaign, Ferris posted on social media about Labour Party members, suggesting that their diverse representation aimed to undermine Māori electoral interests. Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson condemned the comments as racist, prompting a backlash from both Labour and other parties.

In response to the controversy, Te Pāti Māori issued an apology and directed Ferris to retract his statement. However, Ferris later reaffirmed his comments in an eight-minute video, intensifying discussions around the party’s stance on Māori representation.

Ngarewa-Packer also faced criticism regarding the party’s media accessibility during the by-election. Certain media outlets were selectively granted access to campaign events, leading to a stand-off between Kaipara and reporters from 1 News. Ngarewa-Packer described the media’s approach as “predatory” on social media, although the news organization disputed these claims.

Despite these challenges, the party has yet to fully address its recent electoral victory in Parliament. Kaipara is expected to travel to Wellington during the ongoing parliamentary session and will officially join the party once she is sworn in as an MP. The internal dynamics of Te Pāti Māori, now under the leadership of Ngarewa-Packer as whip, will undoubtedly play a significant role as the party navigates the political landscape leading up to the next election.